HolyName: “Three Bar Cross” EP Review
HolyName’s 2025 EP, Three Bar Cross, marks a powerful return for Tommy Green. The music blends heavy metal with deep Eastern Orthodox themes and honest reflections on human mistakes. Across four tracks, the project pairs haunting church-style chants with loud, bass-heavy sections. These songs create a raw and hopeful experience for anyone who appreciates hard-hitting music with a meaningful, spiritual message.
When Sleeping Giant made the heart-breaking decision to close up shop in 2018, it devastated the Christian metal scene. Then, COVID happened and Tommy Green’s wheels were spinning and his creativity took over. Out of COVID spawned HolyName. In 2023, they would release their self-titled debut that featured special guest spots ranging from Brian “Head” Welch to Brook Reeves of Impending Doom to Ryan Clark of Demon Hunter and Eric Gregson of xDEATHSTARx. Then out of nowhere, they posted a teaser in the fall of 2025 for new music. November 14th, they released Three Bar Cross, a 4-song EP.
Three Bar Cross EP Review:
Tracks: 4
Length: 13:16
Release Date: November 14, 2025
Label: Facedown Records
“Christ is Risen” kicks things off with a chilling technical intro that teases what’s to come. The track quickly shifts gears, as a choir joins in to deliver the song’s only haunting lyrics, before launching into an epic breakdown that is reminiscent of old Sleeping Giant. Sleeping Giant was one of those bands that could throw down some hard bass lines that got your head thumping. Those familiar bass lines come through in this song. This song amps you up for what’s to come from the rest of this EP.
“Ritual” was the first song that was posted on HolyName’s socials along with a music video. Tommy’s vocals offer a delicate, chant-like style while layered with reverb. It creates an otherworldly atmosphere that contrasts with the heavy metal instrumentation. He’s going a completely different direction that he did with Sleeping Giant. Through HolyName, he shows a more intentional effort to ground his lyrics in Scripture and proper theology, influenced by his connection to the Eastern Orthodox church. In this song, the message and focus of the song is trusting in God and the importance of the elements of communion.
“Stained Glass” is a grungy metal masterpiece that was released earlier in the year, but it found its home on this EP. This song was written from a personal experience that Tommy had, coming from a place and time of betrayal in a church setting. It’s disheartening to have somebody that you look up to and see as a spiritual mentor, only to have them betray you. For some, it can drive them away from the Church, but for others they see past the betrayal and continue to put their faith in God. It is difficult to deal with church hurt, but it is important to continue to put your faith in God above all things and that He will bring justice to those who misuse their position in the ministry.
“These words I once loved but now I despise. You were like a father to me. But you’re like the father of lies. Father of lies.”
The lyrics are genuine and coming from a place of vulnerability. But while it sends out a message of pain, there is also a message of triumph.
“Through stained glass. I see again, I’m free again.”
Trevor Tyson (from Heal the Hurt) offers the brutal screams to compliment Tommy’s soft vocal styles. The music in this song continues to have this grungy breakdown feel. Between the distorted guitars and the thumping bassline, it drives the chords to get you headbanging along to.
The EP concludes with “Blood.” The songs are tied together by a recurring theme—navigating the messy reality of our own shortcomings.
“Well I’ve been the wounded. I’ve been the wolf. It’s no secret. Life is suffering and we are the culprits of all our disarray. In fact take a good look I’m sure you’ll see. We become the monsters we create.
There is a reality in Christianity and that is humans mess up. We are fallen individuals, but it doesn’t excuse the misuse of other people’s trust and respect. As I’m reading through the lyrics, there are moments that I sense that Tommy and the band could be writing from the perspective of the Apostle Paul, but that moment only comes in the middle of the song when he references “I am the chief of sinners” which Paul refers to himself in 1 Timothy 1:15.
Between the guitars and drums, the music is fun, energetic and gets you moving. The double-bass of the drums thumps through every now and then to add a punch to the song. It ends the EP with a bounce as opposed to the hard driven lines of the opening songs.
I sense that a common distinction of HolyName songs is the bass line. These songs seem to have a driving bass line, with the exception of “Blood.” Oftentimes, the bass can get hidden or will only get small moments to shine, but for HolyName, they want it to be highlighted. The mix is exceptional, especially how it carves out space for the bass to drive the tracks without muddying the guitars. It gives an appreciation for the instruments used in the song.
Tommy used personal stories to fuel the message behind the songs on Three Bar Cross and it’s great to see him back on the scene with this new venture. If you appreciate solid theology, hard driven guitars and heart gripping lyrics, you have to follow HolyName as I’m sure there will be more music to come in the future.